Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20
XIX. CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1887.
Senate.

DfHllOn vi w
on the table.
The resolution heretofore offered by
Mr.. Morgan for inquiring as to the set
Element of Yirginia's claims against
Spain, and of the Peletter and Lazare
claims against Hayti, was taken up,
and. on motion of Mr. Edmunds, it was
referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
MIR. Allison, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported back the Mill
tary- Academy appropriation bill, and
stated that the committee had reported
but one amendment 10 it. Laid on the
table.
At 2 o'clock the unfinished business
(Nicaragrla-canal bilD was laid before
the Senate. The presiding officer pre-
sented several petitions from Ohio posts
of the Grand Army of the Republic for
the passage of the dependent pension
bill over the Presidents veto. Laid on
the table.
Mr.. Blair presented petitions from
several Grand Army posts for the pas
sage of the dependent pension bill over
the Presidents veto. Laid on the
table.
The Nicaragua-canal bill was laid
aside and the river-and-harbor bill
taken I'D. On motion of Mr.. Call, an
item was inserted for the survey of GER
tain channels in Florida and on mo-
ton of Mr.. Morgan, a like item was in
serted forthe Mobile river. Mr.. Brown
moved to increase the appropriation for
the harbor OF Savannah, Ga, from
sG5, 600 to Sl50,000. After discussion
the amendment was rejected.
The bill was temporarily laid aside,
and Mr.. Jones, of Nevada, presented
the conference report on the trade-dol-
lar recoinage bin. After being again
discussed the report was agreed to
yeas, 40; nays, 5. The nays were
Messrs. Frye, George, Jones OF Ar
kansas. Morrill,, and Sherman. The blu
now goes to the President.
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the river-and-harbor bill. An amend
ment offered by Mr.. Van Wyck in
creasing the appropriation for the Mis-
souri, river and providing that the appro-
priation shall be expended under the
supervision of the Secretary of War and
not that of the Missouri-River Commits
sion provoked long discussion, which
had not concluded when the Senate
adjourned at 6 o'clock.
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. Matson, from the Committee on
| Invalid Pensions, reported back the de-
pendent pension bill, with the Presi-
| dents veto message thereon. He asked
that the report be printed in the Record,
| and gave notice that he would call the
bill MP for action Thursday next.
Mr.. breckenridge, of Arkansas, OBJ
iected to the report being printed In the
| Rccord, and thereupon MIR. Burrows oil
Michigan. demanded that it be read.
The Speaker decided that the report
must be read, and the Clerk proceeded
to read it.
Mr. Breckenridge then rose to with
draw his objection, and was met with
loud cries for the regular order from
the Republican side. Mr. Breckenridge
finally was heard TO Withdraw his OBJ
lection, but it was Immediately renewed
upon the Republican side, and the read
ing continued. -,
The report states that two facts will
arrest the attention OF any one who
reads the Presidents message. The
first is that no objection is made to the
bill on any ground Of its constitution
atty, or the right of Congress to enac
the law is not questioned. The othel
is that the first section of the bill is no
touched upon by the message, and nj
intimation is given by the President a
to whether that section-of itself EN-
bodving. as it does, an Independent
proposition, and in the precise form
specifically urged by the Secretary o
the Interior in his last annual report
meets with his approval or disapproval
The committee then analyses the Oh
iections, vague in its provisions, IL
that it might apply to various grade
of disability or dependency, and sub
mits to the Judgment of the Hous'
and country that those who framed tn
bill, after months of careful considera
ton, have made no mistake and hav'
confined the bill to one class, and tina
class can be well defined as consisting
of those totally disabled or dependen
on their daily labor for support. w
regret, says the committee, the straine
Interpretation put on the bill IN tn
message as an excuse rather than a req
son for returning it to the House, an
believe we do no injustice to the Execu
tive when, considering the whole mes
sage, to say that if its provisions ha
been palmer, and no question could hav
been raised as to whether it include
only those unable to labor, he woul
have interposed his objection.
II passes the comprehension of TIN
committee to understand how the Pr'
sident could have overlooked in anotht
bill 1.-THE Mexican pension bill WIFI
!, are alleged as faults in this bill.
=
Such distinction made by the acts
the President the committee cannot b
lieve will be endorsed anywhere by I'll
patriotic sentiment Of the country.
Referring to the expenditures
money which the enactment OF this bi
into a law would necessitate, thecommi
tee contends that theestimate of the Pr
sident is extravagant, but says that 1
consideration of the possible cost shou
: be allowed to come between dependel
soldiers and the relief they are entitlt
, TO receive from the country which the
helped to save. Reducing the who
question TO one OF money expedienc
ii seemed TO the committee that II
: surplus in the Treasury can be best 7
r stored to the people in the manner pr
t posed in the bill. No bonded intere
or huge monopoies could claim q
i money for its own. 1t would go to q
people in small amounts and would G
t culate among them. The bill had be-
asked for on every hand. Protes
Q against it had only come from mon
n centres, where all the money that d
E not turn their mill was considered
worse than wasted.
In conclusion the committee 81
mitted that the general tone OF I
% message was to be fairly taken as {
= pressiye in advance Of the Presiden
it purpose to use the Executive power
prevent any further legislation II